Commentary for Avodah Zarah 48:14
(שמואל א ו, יב) וישרנה הפרות בדרך על דרך בית שמש וגו' מאי וישרנה א"ר יוחנן משום ר"מ שאמרו שירה ורב זוטרא בר טוביה אמר רב שישרו פניהם כנגד ארון ואמרו שירה
“And the cattle took the straight way [vayisharnah] on the way to Bet Shemesh” (I Samuel 6:12). What is the meaning of the word vayisharnah? R. Yohanan said in the name of R. Meir: They sang. R. Zutra b. Tobiah said in the name of Rav: They directed their faces towards the Ark and sang.
Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
This is a midrash on the cows that sang on their way to Bet Shemesh, while accompanying the ark as the Philistines returned it to the Israelites. The word “vayisharnah” literally means went straight. But a similar root means to sing. So the rabbis take it to mean that the cows sang on their way to Bet Shemesh. [Definitely brings to mind some Sesame Street skits].
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy